New Endeavors by Women

NEW gives homeless women a place to live and the supportive services they need to regain control of their lives, to find employment, save their money and say goodbye to homelessness. WSteptoe@NewEndeavorsByWomen.org

Why do we exist?

New Endeavors by Women (NEW) exists because of the dream of women service providers who worked in homeless emergency shelters and day programs in the District of Columbia over thirteen years ago. These women recognized what a seemingly hopeless situation it was for homeless women living in emergency shelters, where they could come in only at 7P.M., spend the night, and have to leave for the streets by 7 in the morning. Any woman trying to find employment or to keep a job had to carry her belongings with her wherever she went during the day. NEW’s founders convinced the DC government to fund a residential transitional program for women which would allow the women time and a place to stay while they got their lives back together. NEW’s facility at 611 N Street, NW can accommodate 38 women at a time. Though a number of transitional programs for women have opened more recently, NEW continues to be unique in all of the services it provides. Each resident at NEW works with a Case Manager to develop specific strategies for becoming self-sufficient, as well as the linkages necessary to address her needs through an individualized service plan. Each woman is aided in accessing legal assistance, medical care, mental health care services, and eligibility benefits. The residents are also assisted in learning how to budget finances and time, develop effective coping skills, and set and attain personal goals. NEW’s Employment Specialist works with women on job related issues, such as creating a resume, finding job leads and job training opportunities. Once a woman has an income, she must save 75% of it toward expenses she will have when she moves out, such as first month’s rent, security deposit, phone installation. NEW also encourages and assists women who have not completed their high school education to earn their GED. Each resident at NEW receives assistance in developing strategies for obtaining and maintaining safe, affordable housing. Our Housing Specialist educates residents about housing options, assists with their housing search and helps them begin to repair credit and/our housing histories.

What have you accomplished?

Since NEW opened its doors on July 5, 1988, over 1100 women have come to NEW. About 80% who leave move into independent living; they move into their own space or are successfully reunited with their families. NEW’s most satisfying accomplishments are hard to measure: self-esteem improves, women enter into healthier relationships, and they become more responsible for their actions. For women who have a history of years of substance abuse, one of the greatest triumphs is to count the days, months, years of living without drugs. NEW has connected women with services and/or entitlements, which improve their economic self-sufficiency. After having received education and job training opportunities while at NEW, women have moved from part-time jobs with an uncertain number of hours to full-time jobs with benefits. Disabled women have received Supplemental Security Income (SSI); this assured income has allowed them to live simply but with dignity in subsidized housing programs, never again to fall into homelessness.

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